In 2004, University of Illinois at Chicago scientist discovered unsafe levels of amphibole asbestos in samples taken from Oak Street Beach, and alerted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Chicago Park District. Tests run the following year by contractor Levine Fricke, however, registered only minimal asbestos levels, and the beach was declared safe.
Now, years later, the Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society, an environmental watchdog group, is demanding that the Chicago Park District retest Oak Street Beach for asbestos, alleging that the 2005 tests were faulty in their assessment. The Society claims that air filters used by Levine Fricke during testing were too large to efficiently trap asbestos fibers, leading to an artificially low result. It also questions the background of Levine Fricke, which was a consultant to a manufacturing company linked with asbestos pollution in Lake Michigan.
The Chicago Park District denies that larger air filters would have any significant impact on results, and defends Levine Fricke’s track record. Despite these assurances, however, the EPA Superfund chief in Chicago has asked for a review of the 2005 test results.
Have you suffered health problems because of asbestos exposure? If so, you may want to consider taking legal action. For more information about your options, call a mesothelioma lawyer from Williams Kherkher at 866-950-9000 today.